JP2010187104A - Apparatus and method of image communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method of image communication, capable of preventing communication disconnection by the collision of signals and improving communication quality by measuring signal delay time in a communication route beforehand and transmitting signals in consideration of the signal delay time. <P>SOLUTION: The image communication apparatus includes: a transmission/reception means for transmitting and receiving data through the communication route; a signal delay time measurement means for measuring the signal delay time of data communication in the communication route when transmission and reception are performed by the transmission/reception means; and a signal transmission interval correction means for correcting the interval of transmitting the signals of the data communication on the basis of the signal delay time measured by the signal delay measurement means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus and an image communication method for preventing communication disconnection due to collision of facsimile signals caused by signal delay in an image communication apparatus such as facsimile communication.

  In general facsimile communication, communication is performed via a standard public telephone line network having a known communication quality and signal delay characteristics, so that the facsimile apparatus previously minimizes the collision of facsimile signals. Designed.

  However, when performing facsimile communication, if the signal passes through a communication path such as a digital communication system or a satellite link, the facsimile signals transmitted by both parties collide with each other, and signals from the other party are transmitted to each other. There was a case that communication was disconnected without receiving.

  Therefore, as a method of avoiding signal collision during facsimile communication, for example, in Patent Document 1, in a half-duplex communication system, a “collision detector” for a facsimile signal is installed between a communication line and a facsimile apparatus, and the communication signal (E.g., interference signal) is always detected, signal transmission is interrupted when a signal collision or a signal with high possibility of signal collision is detected, and a communication signal is confirmed (for example, there is no interference signal) The invention of resuming or retransmitting signal transmission is disclosed.

  However, since the method of Patent Document 1 is a technique for detecting signal collision in facsimile communication, signal transmission is interrupted during facsimile communication when there is a high possibility of actual signal collision or signal collision, Resume or resend transmission. That is, there is a high possibility that communication errors such as disconnection of facsimile communication can be avoided, but there are cases where the quality of facsimile communication deteriorates.

  Further, when performing facsimile communication in the conventional facsimile apparatus, there is no means for recognizing the signal delay time in the facsimile communication path before exchanging the facsimile signal.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and measures signal delay time in a communication path in advance and transmits a signal in consideration of the signal delay time to prevent communication disconnection due to signal collision. It is an object to provide an image communication apparatus and an image communication method capable of improving communication quality.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image communication apparatus according to the present invention measures transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data via a communication path, and measures signal delay time of data communication on the communication path when data is transmitted / received by the transmission / reception means. And a signal transmission interval correction unit that corrects an interval for transmitting a data communication signal based on the signal delay time measured by the signal delay measurement unit.

  The signal delay time measuring means performs a transmission / reception operation for exchanging signals at a predetermined timing in a fixed signal exchange operation performed immediately after call connection, and performs a transmission / reception operation for actually exchanging signals. The signal delay time is measured based on a difference from the required time.

  The signal delay time measuring means transmits a command signal to transmit a response signal when a signal for starting signal exchange is received from the transmission side in a fixed signal exchange operation performed immediately after call connection, and is determined in advance. If the response signal from the other side cannot be received within the time, the arrival time of the response signal from the other side is measured by extending the interval for transmitting the command signal to the other side again, and the signal delay time in the communication path It is characterized by doing.

  The signal transmission interval correction means adds a signal delay time to an interval at which a command signal for starting signal exchange from the transmission side is transmitted again, thereby delaying the interval at which the command signal is transmitted again.

  The signal transmission interval correction means delays the interval for transmitting the response signal by adding a signal delay time to the interval for transmitting the response signal when receiving a signal for starting signal exchange from the transmission side.

  Signal delay time storage means for storing the signal delay time information measured by the signal delay time measurement means in association with the transmission destination or transmission destination information is provided.

  It has a measurement availability judgment means for judging whether or not to perform measurement by the signal delay time measurement means.

  The measurement availability determination means determines whether to perform measurement for a destination stored in advance.

  It has a display output means for displaying and outputting a communication error when communication is cut off due to a signal collision caused by a signal delay when transmission and reception are performed.

  The image communication method according to the present invention includes a transmission / reception step for transmitting / receiving data via a communication path, and a signal delay time measurement for measuring a signal delay time of data communication on the communication path when transmission / reception is performed by the transmission / reception step. And a signal transmission interval correction step for correcting an interval for transmitting a data communication signal based on the signal delay time measured in the signal delay measurement step.

  According to the present invention, even when data is transmitted / received via a communication path where a signal delay is expected, the signal delay time on the communication path is measured in advance, and the signal is transmitted by considering the signal delay time. It becomes possible to prevent the disconnection of communication due to the collision, and the communication quality can be improved.

1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the data structure of the destination information memorize | stored in the address book memory of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a basic flow diagram of facsimile communication of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure showing the procedure of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart on the transmission side of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart on the receiving side of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure showing the procedure of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is a main flowchart of facsimile communication of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a communication flowchart when signal delay time measurement is possible in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a communication flow diagram when communication delay time measurement is impossible in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus includes an operation unit 1, a display unit 2, a FAX control unit 3, a reading unit 4, a recording unit 5, a signal generation unit 6, an image memory 7, an address book memory 8, and line control. Unit 9 and a signal delay time measuring unit 10.

  The operation unit 1 can perform general facsimile operations, and these data are stored in the RAM in the FAX control unit 3 as ASCII codes. The address book information for transmission or reception set by the operation unit 1 is stored in the address book memory 8.

  The display unit 2 displays transmission conditions and the like via the operation unit 1. When a facsimile transmission operation is performed from the operation unit 1, the transmission original is read by the reading unit 4 under the control of the FAX control unit 3, and is assembled into a dedicated transmission format in the signal generation unit 6 via the image memory 7. Sent to the destination set via.

  On the other hand, the received format is decomposed and decoded by the FAX control unit 3 and stored in the image memory 7.

  The signal delay time measurement availability setting information set by the user is stored and managed in the address book memory 8 for each destination. The delay time measured by the signal delay time measuring unit 10 is also stored and managed in the address book memory 8 for each destination as an address book attribute.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the data structure of the destination information stored in the address book memory 8 of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.

  Information common to transmission and reception includes an ID uniquely indicating image data and an image data body, and signal delay information includes a signal delay time measurement availability setting and a signal delay time set by the user. In addition, it has information such as the name of each destination, telephone number, e-mail address, sender information, and IP address. Further, other items satisfying the function as an address book may be additionally set.

FIG. 3 shows a basic flowchart of facsimile communication of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.
When the facsimile apparatus is call-connected, the signal exchange operation is performed between the facsimile apparatuses to measure the signal delay time (step S101). When the signal delay time measurement is completed, the reception function and the transmission mode are exchanged (step S102), the image information is transmitted (step S103), and the process ends.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. Facsimile devices (transmission side and reception side) exchange tonal signals at a predetermined timing before exchanging facsimile identification information (CNG / CED) after call connection, and at a timing determined as an actual operation. The signal delay time is calculated from the difference.

  Specifically, the transmitting side transmits a tonal signal for 100 ms toward the receiving side. When the 100 ms tonal signal component transmitted from the transmitting side disappears, the receiving side transmits a tonal signal to the transmitting side for 100 ms after a time of 100 ms. When the 100 ms tonal signal component transmitted from the receiving side disappears, the transmitting side transmits a tonal signal again to the receiving side for 100 ms after a time of 100 ms.

  The above procedure is performed on the communication path of the facsimile machine that transmits and receives, and the time from the completion of the tonal signal to the start of reception of the tonal signal at each of the transmission side and the reception side is measured, and the value obtained by subtracting 100 ms from the obtained time. The half of the time is the delay time for one way of the communication path.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart on the transmission side of signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart on the receiving side.

  When the facsimile apparatus is connected by a call, the transmitting side transmits a tonal signal for 100 ms (step S201), starts a delay count (step S202), determines whether there is a tonal signal received from the receiving side (step S203), If no tonal signal is received (step S203, NO), the determination is repeated. When a tonal signal is received from the receiving side (step S203, YES), the delay count is ended (step S204).

  Next, it is determined whether tonal signal reception from the receiving side is still continued (step S205). If there is tonal signal reception (step S205, YES), the determination is repeated. When no tonal signal is received (step S205, NO), the tonal signal is transmitted again for 100 ms after a time of 100 ms (step S206), and the signal delay time is calculated from the measured delay count (step S207). finish.

  On the other hand, the receiving side determines whether or not a tonal signal is received from the transmitting side (step S210), and if there is no tonal signal reception (step S210, NO), the determination is repeated. If a tonal signal is received from the transmission side (step S210, YES), it is determined whether the tonal signal is still continuing (step S211). If there is a tonal signal reception (step S211, YES), the determination is repeated. . When there is no tonal signal reception (step S211, NO), the tonal signal is transmitted for 100 ms after a time of 100 ms (step S212) (step S213), and the delay count is started (step S214). It is determined whether there is a tonal signal reception (step S215). If there is no tonal signal reception (step S215, NO), the determination is repeated. When the tonal signal from the transmission side is received (step S215, YES), the delay count is finished, and the signal delay time is calculated from the measured delay count (step S216), and the process is finished.

  Since the time from the completion of transmission of the tonal signal of the own device to the start of reception of the tonal signal is the round trip time of the signal, the transmitting side and the receiving side each subtract 100 ms from the measured round trip time and halve the value one way. Calculated with time.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure for signal delay time measurement of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In normal facsimile communication, the facsimile A in the left figure (a) transmits a command signal A, and the facsimile B receives the command signal A and then transmits a response signal B. Facsimile A receives response signal B. However, when the response signal B cannot be received exceeding a predetermined threshold (for example, 3 seconds), the facsimile A retransmits the command signal A.

  In the present embodiment, the facsimile A shown in the diagram on the right (b) transmits the command signal A, and the facsimile B receives the command signal A and then transmits the response signal B. Since the facsimile A receives the response signal B after exceeding a predetermined threshold value due to signal delay, by delaying the retransmit interval of the command signal A of the facsimile A by the signal delay time, The response signal B can be received. The signal delay time can be estimated from the arrival time of the facsimile response signal and the transmission signal can be prevented from colliding.

  FIG. 8 shows a main flow diagram of facsimile communication of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a communication flowchart when signal delay time measurement is possible in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a communication flowchart when signal delay time measurement is impossible in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When transmitting / receiving a facsimile, it is determined whether or not the signal delay time measurement enable / disable setting stored in advance in the address book memory 8 is set (step S301). If the setting is possible (YES in step S301), the signal delay time measurement is started. Then, it is determined whether the signal delay time measurement is completed (step S302).

  When the signal delay time measurement is completed (YES in step S302), the facsimile transmission / reception is performed after setting the calculated delay time to the instruction transmission timer (command transmission retransmission interval) of the facsimile apparatus (step S304). (Step S304).

  On the other hand, when the signal delay time measurement is not completed (step S302, NO), the facsimile response time is measured to estimate the signal delay time (step S305). Next, a delay time calculated from the estimated time is added to the command transmission timer (command transmission retransmission interval) of the facsimile apparatus and set, and response signal transmission timing is set (step S306), and then facsimile transmission / reception is performed (step S306). S307).

  If the signal delay time measurement enable / disable setting stored in advance in the address book memory 8 is NO (step S301, NO), normal facsimile transmission / reception is performed (step S308). In the process, it is determined whether a communication error due to a signal delay occurs (step S309). If a communication error occurs (step S309, YES), a communication result is displayed and output as a communication error caused by the signal delay (step S310). ) And finish. If no communication error has occurred (step S309, NO), the facsimile communication ends.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment measures the signal delay time stored in advance in the address book memory 8 when transmitting to an arbitrary destination or receiving from an arbitrary destination. Referring to the availability setting information (step S301), if measurement is possible (step S301, YES), the signal delay time is measured by the signal delay time measuring means (step S302).
Here, when both the transmission side and the reception side are provided with signal delay time measuring means, the signal delay time of the communication path is measured by the flow procedure shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 (steps S201 to S207 and steps). S210 to S216), a time obtained by adding the measured delay time is set to the command transmission timer (command transmission retransmission interval) of each device on the transmission side and the reception side (step S303), and the facsimile procedure is performed (step S304). The command transmission timer value delays the timing (interval) at which the command is retransmitted when the response signal to the command transmission exceeds 3 seconds due to a signal delay. It can be avoided and good facsimile communication can be performed.

  The signal delay time measuring means of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the transmitting side transmits a tonal signal for 100 ms (step S201). The receiving side transmits 100 ms to the transmitting side after 100 ms after receiving the tonal signal (steps S210 to S213). The transmission side waits 100 ms after completion of reception of the tonal signal, and again transmits the tonal signal to the reception side for 100 ms (steps S205 to S207). The above procedure is performed on the mutual facsimile communication path, and the one-way delay time is measured by subtracting 100 ms from the time from the completion of the tonal signal reception to the start of tonal signal reception and dividing by 2 at the transmission side and the reception side facsimile apparatus. be able to.

A means for measuring the arrival time of the facsimile response signal from the receiver by extending the facsimile command signal retransmission timing (interval) of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, signal A indicates a command signal and signal B indicates a response signal. The facsimile A in the left (a) diagram transmits the command signal A, and the facsimile B receives the signal A, and then transmits the response signal B. The facsimile A receives the response signal B. This is a normal procedure on facsimile communication. In the procedure of this embodiment, the facsimile A can receive the response signal B on a path where a delay occurs by extending the response signal waiting time. The time obtained by subtracting the response time of the command signal time A and the facsimile signal B from the time taken to receive the response signal B from the command signal A in the right (b) diagram shows the signal delay time (round trip time). Become. This procedure can be similarly measured for facsimiles B to A.

  In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the measured signal delay time is automatically updated after measurement as an attribute of the destination information in the address book memory 8.

  In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the operation unit 1 is used to operate and set the signal delay time measurement availability setting of the destination information stored in the address book memory 8.

  In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, in the case where either the transmission side or the reception side is not provided with the signal delay time measuring means or in the case of the normal facsimile, The signal delay time in the facsimile communication path is estimated by measuring the response time. Since the signal delay time of the communication path is measured by this procedure, a time obtained by adding the signal delay time to the command transmission timer (command transmission retransmission interval) and the response signal transmission timing (interval) is set (step S306). Facsimile communication is performed (step S307). The command transmission timer value delays the timing (interval) at which the command is retransmitted when the response signal to the command transmission exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) due to the signal delay. It is possible to avoid collision of transmission signals on the receiving side. Further, even when the command transmission timing (interval) from the other party does not change, it is possible to avoid collision with the command signal of the other machine by changing the transmission timing (interval) of the response signal, and good facsimile communication can be performed. .

  The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment refers to the signal delay time measurement availability setting information stored in advance in the address book memory 8 when transmitting to an arbitrary destination or receiving from an arbitrary destination (step S301). If measurement is impossible, normal facsimile communication is performed (step S308). If a communication error due to signal delay occurs during communication, a report display is output (step S310), and the process ends.

  Also, when performing facsimile transmission / reception via a communication path in which a signal delay occurs, such as a digital communication system or a satellite link, the facsimile signal delay time in the facsimile communication path is measured in advance, and the facsimile is considered in consideration of the signal delay time. By transmitting a signal, it is possible to improve facsimile communication quality by preventing disconnection due to collision of facsimile signals.

  In addition, the signal delay time in the communication path can be easily recognized by performing a fixed signal exchange operation immediately after the call connection between the transmitter and the receiver, and by performing facsimile communication in consideration of the delay time. The facsimile communication quality can be improved.

  Also, when communicating with a normal facsimile machine, a signal delay time is estimated by measuring the timing of a command signal and a response signal of a normal facsimile procedure, and facsimile communication is performed in consideration of the delay time. Communication quality can be improved.

  Further, since the facsimile signal delay time differs depending on the communication path, the signal delay time must be measured every time the facsimile communication is performed. However, the signal delay time information has a one-to-one correspondence with the communication path. ) Or the source information (at the time of reception) and storing the information, it is possible to improve the facsimile communication efficiency by reducing the signal delay time measurement procedure in the subsequent communication.

  In addition, the operator can set whether or not to perform the delay time correction of the facsimile signal for each destination, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the facsimile communication quality.

  Further, the quality of facsimile communication can be improved by coping with all phases by correcting the timing of command transmission and the timing of response transmission according to the signal delay time according to the phase of the facsimile communication procedure.

  In the case of communication disconnection due to signal delay, the communication quality can be improved by enabling the signal delay correction function by notifying the operator of the cause.

  The present invention can be applied to uses such as an image communication apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation part 2 Display part 3 FAX control part 4 Reading part 5 Recording part 6 Signal generation part 7 Image memory 8 Address book memory 9 Line control part 10 Signal delay time measurement part

JP 2002-502563 A

Claims (10)

A transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data via a communication path;
A signal delay time measuring means for measuring a signal delay time of data communication in the communication path when transmitted / received by the transmitting / receiving means;
An image communication apparatus comprising: a signal transmission interval correction unit that corrects an interval of transmitting a data communication signal based on the signal delay time measured by the signal delay measurement unit.   The signal delay time measuring means performs a transmission / reception operation for exchanging signals at a predetermined timing in a fixed signal exchange operation performed immediately after call connection, and the transmission / reception unit for actually exchanging the signals. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal delay time is measured based on a difference from a time required for the operation.   The signal delay time measuring means transmits a command signal to transmit a response signal when receiving a signal for starting signal exchange from the transmission side in a fixed signal exchange operation performed immediately after call connection. If the response signal from the other side cannot be received within a predetermined time, the arrival time of the response signal from the other side is measured by extending the interval for transmitting the command signal to the other side again, and the communication path The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal delay time is set to be the signal delay time.   The signal transmission interval correction unit adds the signal delay time to an interval at which the command signal for starting the signal exchange from the transmission side is transmitted again, and delays an interval at which the command signal is transmitted again. The image communication apparatus according to claim 3.   The signal transmission interval correction means delays the interval for transmitting the response signal by adding the signal delay time to the interval for transmitting the response signal when receiving the signal for starting the signal exchange from the transmission side. The image communication apparatus according to claim 3.   6. The signal delay time storage means for storing the signal delay time information measured by the signal delay time measurement means in association with transmission destination or transmission destination information, according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Image communication device.   The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement availability determination unit that determines whether or not to perform measurement by the signal delay time measurement unit.   The image communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the measurement availability determination unit determines whether to perform measurement for a destination stored in advance.   9. The image according to claim 1, further comprising display output means for displaying and outputting a communication error when communication is cut off due to a signal collision caused by a signal delay when transmission / reception is performed. Communication device. A transmission / reception step for transmitting / receiving data via a communication path;
A signal delay time measurement step of measuring a signal delay time of data communication in the communication path when transmitted and received in the transmission / reception step;
An image communication method comprising: a signal transmission interval correction step of correcting an interval of transmitting a data communication signal based on the signal delay time measured in the signal delay measurement step.

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